Changes for the Better in Guatemala
Earlier this week, Marcela,
17, who lives in a small village five hours from Guatemala City, opened
the door of her home to us. She had a special story to share, as she
comes from a community where girls used to marry as young as age 14.
Many times the marriages were arranged by parents, or the girls were
seeking to escape negligence, poverty or violence at home. Some were
pregnant.
Marcela’s path has been different. She started participating in ChildFund programs at the age of 13. “Now, I can say that ChildFund changed my life in many ways,” she says. “I learned about my rights, responsibilities and obligations. I know that both men and women have the same rights and none is better than the other. Also, now I know about my rights as a girl and about my value as a woman that is worth so much and is so special that not even a millionaire would be able to pay for it,” she asserts.
It’s that confidence that gave her the courage to avoid early marriage. “My parents wanted me to get married when I was 14. The family of a neighboring boy came to ask for me, but I didn’t want to [marry] and didn’t know what to do,” she says.
“Look at me,” she exclaims. “I’m very young and skinny, and I started thinking in one year from now I will have children, and I’m not ready. I knew my rights and that no one would be able to force me, and I didn’t accept because I wanted a different future for me and my family. I talked to my parents and told them that I was not prepared, and I really wanted to continue studying and later get married.
“It was not easy,” says Marcela, with tears in her eyes, “but I thank my parents, because at the end, they were able to listen and understood my decision.”
The eldest of four siblings, Marcela is in her third year of secondary school. She says one of her goals is to continue studying and go to college, something that is not very common for girls her age in Guatemala’s rural, indigenous communities.
Marcela´s mother, María, tells us that the ChildFund-supported youth projects in her community have been good for her daughter. “Before, Marcela was a shy girl and she did not like to talk to people. Now, I am also participating as a guide mother, teaching other mothers about how to better raise their children, early stimulation for the little ones, how to play with them and to have a better communication with the elder ones,” says María.
María says she did not know anything about children’s rights when she got married at age 14. At that time she didn’t have another option, as women in her community were not even able to talk in public. Seeing Marcela develop confidence and complete her education is a great source of happiness for María. Marcela is even teaching her mother how to write and read.
“I am proud of myself,” Marcela says, “and I can see how things are changing.” In fact, Marcela has become a role model for other girls in her community. She advocates for girls to continue with their education and delay marriage until they are ready.
Marcela is a good indicator of how aspects of the Guatemalan culture are changing for the better. It’s fantastic to see entire communities break from patterns and traditions that are harmful to children, such as early or forced marriage.
“ChildFund projects for youth and adolescents are making a big difference and promoting social change in our communities,” says Mario Lima, ChildFund’s national director in Guatemala. The programs focus on youth empowerment and children’s rights.
Marcela is actively participating in the Youth Speakers in Action project, which equips adolescents and youth to become leaders in their communities.
Marcela tells me that she wants to continue studying to become a medical doctor. She knows that it is an expensive and a tough career. Yet, I’m confident that Marcela’s dream will become true.
Marcela’s path has been different. She started participating in ChildFund programs at the age of 13. “Now, I can say that ChildFund changed my life in many ways,” she says. “I learned about my rights, responsibilities and obligations. I know that both men and women have the same rights and none is better than the other. Also, now I know about my rights as a girl and about my value as a woman that is worth so much and is so special that not even a millionaire would be able to pay for it,” she asserts.
It’s that confidence that gave her the courage to avoid early marriage. “My parents wanted me to get married when I was 14. The family of a neighboring boy came to ask for me, but I didn’t want to [marry] and didn’t know what to do,” she says.
“Look at me,” she exclaims. “I’m very young and skinny, and I started thinking in one year from now I will have children, and I’m not ready. I knew my rights and that no one would be able to force me, and I didn’t accept because I wanted a different future for me and my family. I talked to my parents and told them that I was not prepared, and I really wanted to continue studying and later get married.
“It was not easy,” says Marcela, with tears in her eyes, “but I thank my parents, because at the end, they were able to listen and understood my decision.”
The eldest of four siblings, Marcela is in her third year of secondary school. She says one of her goals is to continue studying and go to college, something that is not very common for girls her age in Guatemala’s rural, indigenous communities.
Marcela´s mother, María, tells us that the ChildFund-supported youth projects in her community have been good for her daughter. “Before, Marcela was a shy girl and she did not like to talk to people. Now, I am also participating as a guide mother, teaching other mothers about how to better raise their children, early stimulation for the little ones, how to play with them and to have a better communication with the elder ones,” says María.
María says she did not know anything about children’s rights when she got married at age 14. At that time she didn’t have another option, as women in her community were not even able to talk in public. Seeing Marcela develop confidence and complete her education is a great source of happiness for María. Marcela is even teaching her mother how to write and read.
“I am proud of myself,” Marcela says, “and I can see how things are changing.” In fact, Marcela has become a role model for other girls in her community. She advocates for girls to continue with their education and delay marriage until they are ready.
Marcela is a good indicator of how aspects of the Guatemalan culture are changing for the better. It’s fantastic to see entire communities break from patterns and traditions that are harmful to children, such as early or forced marriage.
“ChildFund projects for youth and adolescents are making a big difference and promoting social change in our communities,” says Mario Lima, ChildFund’s national director in Guatemala. The programs focus on youth empowerment and children’s rights.
Marcela is actively participating in the Youth Speakers in Action project, which equips adolescents and youth to become leaders in their communities.
Marcela tells me that she wants to continue studying to become a medical doctor. She knows that it is an expensive and a tough career. Yet, I’m confident that Marcela’s dream will become true.
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